A tree is not just for Christmas. Was getting a real tree the right choice?
Tending to a tree all year can be rewarding – plus it’s better for the environment than the plastic variety
Making a Difference
Four ways to use less electricity with your Christmas lights
A few simple adjustments this year can make Christmas a bit less harsh on the planet
How your mini travel shampoo is costing your pocket and the planet - here’s an alternative
Choose refillable containers to carry your toiletries, or better still, opt for solid soap, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant bars
Kids are showing up for the environment this unboxing season, cleaning up what adults have left behind
Over 34,000 students have joined the Picker Pals programme, becoming environmentalists and removing 22 tonnes of litter
One less geansaí Nollaig isn’t all the planet wants for Christmas, but it’s a start
Our festive knits have become one of the worst examples of fast fashion
Black Friday is nothing more than Bleak Friday when it comes to environment
Some shoppers wait all year for this event to make necessary purchases they could not otherwise afford - others are enticed to buy things they don’t need
Reusable cloth nappies vs disposables: would you put €500 a year in the bin?
Disposables are hardly without their ick factor, and the cost savings and environmental benefits of reusables are compelling
Reducing emissions: A simple step you can take while driving
A primary school in Co Mayo is testing a scheme for tackling air pollution while helping parents get their kids to school without driving all the way
When’s the best time to use the dishwasher and wash clothes? The recommended periods and why wind matters
By waiting until the right time to use energy-intensive appliances, we can relieve pressure on the national grid and reduce emissions
Latte levy: ‘Now, you’d be ashamed to be seen with a disposable cup’
The Killarney Coffee Cup Project has so far prevented more than one million single-use coffee cups from reaching landfill or littering the town
‘Everyone who tries the e-cargo bike, there is a brief panic because they can’t see the front wheel ... Suddenly, off they go’
Bike Hub is a social enterprise supported by Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council. It wants to convince you of the merits of the eco-friendly e-cargo bike
Big budget drinks companies have done a great job of commodifying drinking water
Whatever about the health benefits of the water itself, drinking it from a plastic bottle can be dodgy
Getting married? Here’s how to ensure your big day has a small footprint
A number of wedding venues are aiming to help couples have a more environmentally friendly wedding day
Polyester Halloween costumes are scarily bad for the environment. Try a swap shop
If you start planning for this year’s dressing up now you can make Halloween less of a frightener by not buying new stuff and using items you already have
What do you do with hair you shed - put it in the bin or flush it down the toilet?
Hair is natural, it can hardly be an environmental hazard? Or can it?
Bar soap or liquid soap: which is better for the environment and your wallet?
Save money, save the planet: How to wash your hands
Ditch the plastic and buy loose fruit and veg to save money and waste
And be careful where you store those apples, pears and bananas
A menstrual cup can cost as little as €12 and last up to a decade
Trying out a new product can feel like extra hassle you don’t need at that time of the month, but the savings are compelling
Summer should mean much cheaper bills. Why are so many of us missing out on big savings?
‘Inefficient energy behaviour remains broadly unchanged between summer and winter,’ the SEAI has found
Organising a ‘walking bus’ can save time and money and improve kids’ health
Just 24% of children travel to school on foot these days, a fall from 45% in 1986 – Ireland’s little walkers have become passengers
How to beat fuel increases: seven tips to cut your costs and help save the planet
Carbon taxes are pushing petrol and diesel costs up. Besides going electric, are there other ways to save?
Music festival tents: can you save money while saving the planet?
A discarded tent typically uses the same amount of plastic as nearly 9,000 plastic straws, 200 plastic bottles or 22 Coldplay LPs
If you’ve got a dirty car, drive it with pride
Polluted run-off from car washes can end up in rivers, streams, the sea and in groundwater
‘There is a great sense of satisfaction’: How to save money on clothes
Save money, save the planet: The endless cycle of clothes shopping is causing water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and landfill
Do plastic chopping boards shed microplastics into food?
Save money, save the planet: Microplastics are tiny plastic pieces, less than 5mm in diameter, that have been found in the air, water, soil and sand
The best and safest ways to deal with unused paint
Save money, save the planet: Acrylic paints contribute to the large amount of microplastics in waterways and have been found in human bloodstreams and breastmilk
Stop using fabric softener – your clothes will be just as clean, if not even cleaner
Clothes not smelling like ‘morning silkwood’ or any other AI-named ‘fragrances’ is something we can live without
How to stop junk mail coming through your letterbox
Reduce unwanted flyers coming through your letterbox and lighten your green bin with these tips
How to have a more eco-friendly barbecue
Let the garden grow wild, avoid balloons and forgo the red meat
Flushing old medicines down the toilet can make the planet sick, so how should you dispose of them?
Take your out-of-date pills and unused potions to dedicated disposal services, and always finish your course of antibiotics
Children’s birthday party bags are a scourge. Here are some alternatives
The single-use plastic bags and bits quickly end up in the bin or the Hoover so why do we do it?
Save money, save the planet: How to dry your clothes faster
There are also lots of other things you can do to make drying clothes cheaper and kinder to the environment
How to boost your home’s Ber energy rating for free
With eligibility for energy upgrades expanding, you or a loved one could be entitled to a free retrofit
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